Mayor Wright Homes to be redeveloped by state

Hakim Ouansafi, left, executive director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, joined Nicholas Birck, chief planner in the agency’s Planning and Evaluation Office, to tour Mayor Wright Homes in Liliha.

A master developer is being sought by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the future redevelopment of Mayor Wright Homes, the agency announced on Friday.

The redevelopment will be a ” mixed-income, mixed-finance, mixed-use model” aimed at generating the income needed to improve the site and the community, the agency said in a news release.

“This announcement is a starting point in the journey to redevelop and improve the lives of residents that live at one of the oldest and largest low-income public housing properties in the HPHA portfolio,” HPHA Executive Director Hakim Ouansafi said in a statement.

A formal announcement that the agency is issuing a “Request for Qualifications” seeking a master developer was scheduled by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Friday afternoon.

“This RFQ will catalyze public and private investment to create a vibrant mixed income community, will be consistent with downtown transit-oriented development objectives, and increase affordable rental housing options in our state,” Ouansafi said.

The Hawaii Public Housing Authority is the sole public housing agency for the state. It administers more than 6,000 federal and state low-income public housing units on five islands, and just under 2,000 rental assistance vouchers on Oahu.